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Enhanced Telemedicine in Primary Care for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections Study
Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
Summary
Young children often receive antibiotics for pediatric acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) - common childhood diagnoses like ear infections, strep throat, sinusitis, and colds - but many of these antibiotics are prescribed unnecessarily for viral infections, where antibiotics will not help. Helping families and pediatricians to evaluate children with ARTIs through primary care telemedicine visits using at-home tele-otoscopes vs. at-home eBooks could help reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure in children. In this clinical trial, we will assess the impact of at-home tele-otoscope vs. eBook enabled primary care telemedicine on antibiotic use, healthcare utilization, and healthcare costs for young children.
Official title: Enhanced Telemedicine in Primary Care for ARTIs (Tele-PARTI) Study
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
6 Months - 24 Months
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
450
Start Date
2026-11
Completion Date
2030-04
Last Updated
2026-09-29
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Tele-Otoscope Enabled Primary Care
Children randomized to the experimental arm will receive a tele- otoscope and ear irrigation device (to assist cerumen removal if needed); parents will be trained on the use of these devices. Parents will be asked to download the tele-otoscope app which will allow them to view and record from the tele-otoscope camera. These devices (tele-otoscope and ear irrigation device) are commercially available and their functionality is not being tested in this study, which focuses instead on testing the impact of their availability when integrated into primary care telemedicine.
eBook-supported primary care
Children randomized to the control arm will receive an eBook on baby and toddler care from the American Academy of Pediatrics. As in prior studies of tele-services, we will provide the eBook as a "digital placebo." Thus, participants in both arms receive an electronic resource, but the eBook has limited content specific to ARTI care, such that it is not expected to significantly influence study outcomes.
Locations (2)
UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Primary Care Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States